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March 16, 2010

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Appendix 1: Materials used by Mr. Sack

125 of 146

March 16, 2010

Authorized for Public Release

Class II FOMC - Restricted FR

Material for

FOMC Presentation:
Financial Market Developments and Desk Operations
Brian Sack
March 16, 2010

126 of 146

March 16, 2010

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Class II FOMC – Restricted FR

Exhibit 1

(1) Implied Federal Funds Rate

Percent

2.5

4.5

11/3/09

(2) Treasury Yields

Percent

2-yr

5-yr

10-yr

FOMC

12/01/08

04/01/09

08/01/09

12/01/09

12/15/09
2.0

1/26/10

3.5

3/12/10
1.5
2.5
1.0
1.5

0.5
0.0
04/01/10 08/01/10 12/01/10 04/01/11 08/01/11 12/01/11

0.5
08/01/08

Source: Federal Reserve Bank of New York

Source: Bloomberg

(3) Breakeven Inflation Rates

Percent

BPS

4
FOMC
3

(4) European Debt Spreads to German Debt*

450
400
350

2

Greece
Portugal
Spain

FOMC

300
250

1

200
150

0

100

5-yr Spot
5-yr 5-yr Forward

-1
-2
08/01/07

03/01/08

50

10/01/08

05/01/09

12/01/09

Source: Federal Reserve Board of Governors

BPS

400

New York
California
USA

FOMC

350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
01/01/09
Source: Bloomberg

05/01/09

09/01/09

05/01/09

09/01/09

01/01/10

*10-yr Maturity; Source: Bloomberg

(5) CDS in Federal and State Debt
450

0
01/01/09

01/01/10

Indexed to
100=8/1/08

150
145
140
135
130
125
120
115
110
105
100
08/01/08

(6) US Dollar
GBP/Dollar

EUR/Dollar
FOMC
Dollar Appreciation

12/01/08

04/01/09

08/01/09

Source: Federal Reserve Board of Governors, Bloomberg

12/01/09

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Class II FOMC – Restricted FR
$ Billions

1750

Exhibit 2

(7) Federal Reserve Short-Term
Liquidity Facilities

(8) LIBOR-OIS Spreads

BPS

400
PDCF

1500
1250

AMLF

FOMC

350

TSLF
300

FX Swaps

150

1-mo

TAF

500

200

CPFF

750

250

PCF

1000

100

3-mo

250

50

0
08/01/08 12/01/08 04/01/09 08/01/09 12/01/09
Source: Federal Reserve Bank of New York

(9) TALF Outstanding Balances

60
50

08/01/09

12/01/09

(10) ABS Spreads

BPS

600

3-yr Credit Card
3-yr Auto Prime
3-yr Student Loan

500

40
30

FOMC

400

20

300

10
0

200

-10

100

-20

0
06/25/09

09/25/09

12/25/09

Source: Federal Reserve Bank of New York

Indexed to
100= 8/1/08

04/01/09

700

Loans Extended
Cumulative Prepayment
Loans Outstanding

-30
03/25/09

12/01/08

Source: Bloomberg

$ Billions

70

0
08/01/08

08/01/08

12/01/08

04/01/09

08/01/09

12/01/09

Source: JP Morgan Chase

BPS

(11) S&P 500

(12) Corporate Bond Spreads

2500

BPS
1200

110
100

FOMC

90

1000

2000
FOMC

800
1500
600

80
1000

400

70
60
50
08/01/08 12/01/08 04/01/09 08/01/09 12/01/09
Source: Bloomberg

500

High Yield (LHS)
Investment Grade (RHS)

0
08/01/08 12/01/08 04/01/09 08/01/09 12/01/09
Source: Bank of America

200
0

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Class II FOMC – Restricted FR

Exhibit 3

(13) Weekly Pace of MBS Purchases

(14) Weekly Pace of Agency Debt Purchases

$ Billions

$ Billions

35

Actual*

Projected Path at Dec FOMC

5

Actual*

Projected Path at Dec FOMC

30
4
25
3

20
15

2

10
1

5
0
12/31/08 03/31/09 06/30/09 09/30/09 12/31/09 03/31/10

0
12/31/08 03/31/09 06/30/09 09/30/09 12/31/09 03/31/10

*Monthly average; Source: Federal Reserve Bank of New York

*Monthly average; Source: Federal Reserve Bank of New York

(15) MBS Spreads*

BPS

BPS

175

(16) Agency Debt Spread*

175
OAS to Treasury
OAS to Swap

150
125

150
125

100

100

75

75

50

50

25

25

0

0

-25

-25

-50
08/01/00

-50
08/01/00

08/01/03

08/01/06

08/01/09

* Fannie Mae fixed-rate current coupon spreads; Source: Barclays Capital

08/01/03

08/01/06

08/01/09

*Fannie Mae 5-yr benchmark spread to Treasury; Source: JP Morgan Chase

(17) Percent of Outstanding MBS Owned by SOMA*

(18) MBS Fails*
$ Billions

Percent

600

100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0

500
400
300
200

3/10/10

100
3.5

4

4.5
Coupon

5

5.5

*Fannie Mae 30-yr; Source: Federal Reserve Bank of New York

6

0
01/01/02 01/01/04 01/01/06 01/01/08 01/01/10
*4-wk moving average; Source: FR2004

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Class II FOMC – Restricted FR

Exhibit 4

(19) Domestic SOMA Portfolio Composition
$ Billions

7

Agency MBS

2500

Agency Debt

Agency Debt
Total Portfolio

5

Coupons

1500

Treasuries
Agency MBS

6

TIPS

2000

(20) SOMA Modified Duration

Years

4

Bills

3

1000

2
500

1

0
01/03/07

01/03/08

01/03/09

01/03/10

Source: Federal Reserve Bank of New York

0
01/01/90

01/01/95

01/01/00

01/01/05

01/01/10

Source: Federal Reserve Bank of New York

(21) Change in Size of SOMA from Asset Redemptions
Levels of SOMA Assets
($ Billions, Par)

Cumulative Change
(from April 1, 2010)

6/30/2007

4/1/2010

Through 2011

Through 2015

Agency MBS*

0

1,130

-187

-415

Agency Debt

0

170

-63

-130

Total non-Treasury

0

1,300

-250

-545

Treasury Debt

786

771

-139

-436

Total

786

2,071

-389

-981

* Estimates reflect BlackRock’s prepayment assumptions; Source: Federal Reserve Bank of New York

(22) Alternate Paths for the Size of SOMA*
$ Billions

(23) Change in Size of SOMA under Alternative
Treasury Redemption Strategies

2500
Forecast

Cumulative Change
(from April 1, 2010)

2000

Through 2011

1500

Full Redemptions
Reinvest into Bills

0
2006

2008
2010
2012
2014
No Treasury Redemptions
Full Treasury Redemptions

-32

Reinvest into Bills
and 2-, 3-yr Notes

500

-103

Reinvest into Bills
and 2-yr Notes

1000

-139

0

2016

*Forecast as of 3/3/2010; Source: Federal Reserve Bank of New York

Source: Federal Reserve Bank of New York

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Appendix 2: Materials used by Mr. Stockton

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Private Housing Construction
(Thousands of units, seasonally adjusted annual rate, except where noted)
2009
Category

2009

Q2

Q3

2009
Q4r

Dec.

2010
Jan.p

Jan.r

Feb.p

Total
Starts
Permits

554
572

540
529

587
573

559
598

573
653

591
621

611
622

575
612

Single-family
Starts
Permits
Adjusted permits1
Permits backlog2

445
435
440
58

425
406
418
59

498
460
478
56

481
474
488
58

481
505
520
58

484
507
519
57

502
504
517
58

499
503
507
57

Multifamily
Starts
Permits
Adjusted permits1
Permits backlog2

109
137
132
40

115
123
123
39

89
113
114
37

78
124
125
40

92
148
148
40

107
114
114
38

109
118
118
38

76
109
109
39

Regional starts3
Northeast
Midwest
South
West

62
97
278
117

63
90
261
126

66
107
289
124

59
100
292
108

60
94
309
110

66
91
312
122

73
94
317
127

66
104
268
137

r revised
p preliminary
1. Adjusted permits equal permit issuance plus total starts outside of permit-issuing areas.
2. Number outstanding at end of period. Seasonally adjusted by staff. Excludes permits that have been cancelled,
abandoned, expired, or revoked. Not at an annual rate.
3. Sum of single-family and multifamily starts.
Source: Census Bureau.

Private Housing Starts and Permits
(Seasonally adjusted annual rate)

Millions of units

2.0

2.0

1.8

1.8
Single-family starts

1.6

1.6

1.4

1.4

1.2

1.2
Single-family adjusted permits

1.0

1.0

.8

.8

.6

.6
Feb.

.4

.4

.2
.0

Multifamily starts
1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

Feb.
2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

Note. Adjusted permits equal permit issuance plus total starts outside of permit-issuing areas.
Source: Census Bureau.

2009

2010

.2
.0

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Appendix 3: Materials used by Mr. Dudley

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Figure 1: Core CPI Inflation with and without Shelter
3-Month Annualized (Percent)
6

3-Month Annualized (Percent)
6

5

5

Core without
Shelter

4

4

3

3

2

2

1

1

0

0

-1

Core

-1

-2

Shelter

-2

-3
2005

-3
2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Figure 2:Core PCE Components Before and After Sep-2008
After (Annualized Inflation)

15%
10%

Education Services
Used Motor Vehicles

Educational Books

5%
New Motor Vehicles

Housing
Jewelry and Watches

Communication

Public Transportation

0%
-5%

Telephone and
Fax Equipment

Accommodation
Household Dishes
and Utensils

-10%

Furniture and
Furnishings

Multimedia Equipment

-15%
-15%

-10%

-5%

Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis,
FRBSF/FRBNY Staff

0%

5%

10%

15%

Before (Annualized Inflation)
Note: Before (Dec-05 to Sep-08); After (Sep-08 to Jan-10)

March 16, 2010

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Appendix 4: Materials used by Mr. Madigan

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March 16, 2010

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Class I FOMC – Restricted Controlled (FR)

Material for Briefing on
Monetary Policy Alternatives

Brian Madigan
March 16, 2010

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Page 1 of 10

January FOMC Statement 
Information received since the Federal Open Market Committee met in December suggests that
economic activity has continued to strengthen and that the deterioration in the labor market is
abating. Household spending is expanding at a moderate rate but remains constrained by a weak
labor market, modest income growth, lower housing wealth, and tight credit. Business spending
on equipment and software appears to be picking up, but investment in structures is still contracting
and employers remain reluctant to add to payrolls. Firms have brought inventory stocks into better
alignment with sales. While bank lending continues to contract, financial market conditions remain
supportive of economic growth. Although the pace of economic recovery is likely to be moderate
for a time, the Committee anticipates a gradual return to higher levels of resource utilization in a
context of price stability.
With substantial resource slack continuing to restrain cost pressures and with longer-term inflation
expectations stable, inflation is likely to be subdued for some time.
The Committee will maintain the target range for the federal funds rate at 0 to ¼ percent
and continues to anticipate that economic conditions, including low rates of resource utilization,
subdued inflation trends, and stable inflation expectations, are likely to warrant exceptionally low
levels of the federal funds rate for an extended period. To provide support to mortgage lending
and housing markets and to improve overall conditions in private credit markets, the Federal
Reserve is in the process of purchasing $1.25 trillion of agency mortgage-backed securities and
about $175 billion of agency debt. In order to promote a smooth transition in markets, the
Committee is gradually slowing the pace of these purchases, and it anticipates that these
transactions will be executed by the end of the first quarter. The Committee will continue to
evaluate its purchases of securities in light of the evolving economic outlook and conditions in
financial markets.
In light of improved functioning of financial markets, the Federal Reserve will be closing the
Asset-Backed Commercial Paper Money Market Mutual Fund Liquidity Facility, the Commercial
Paper Funding Facility, the Primary Dealer Credit Facility, and the Term Securities Lending Facility
on February 1, as previously announced. In addition, the temporary liquidity swap arrangements
between the Federal Reserve and other central banks will expire on February 1. The Federal
Reserve is in the process of winding down its Term Auction Facility: $50 billion in 28-day credit
will be offered on February 8 and $25 billion in 28-day credit will be offered at the final auction
on March 8. The anticipated expiration dates for the Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility
remain set at June 30 for loans backed by new-issue commercial mortgage-backed securities and
March 31 for loans backed by all other types of collateral. The Federal Reserve is prepared to
modify these plans if necessary to support financial stability and economic growth.

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Page 2 of 10

March FOMC Statement—Alternative A 
1. Information received since the Federal Open Market Committee met in January suggests that
economic activity has continued to strengthen and that the deterioration in the labor market is
abating. Household spending is expanding at a moderate rate but remains constrained by high
unemployment, modest income growth, lower housing wealth, and tight credit. Business
spending on equipment and software has risen significantly. However, investment in
nonresidential structures is still contracting, housing activity continues to be sluggish, and
employers remain reluctant to add to payrolls. In light of the weakness in labor markets and
prospects for a subpar economic recovery, the Committee judges that further monetary
stimulus is warranted.
2. With substantial resource slack continuing to restrain cost pressures and with longer-term
inflation expectations stable, inflation is likely to be subdued for some time.
3. To provide further support to mortgage lending and housing markets and to promote a more
robust economic recovery in a context of price stability, the Committee decided to
extend its program for purchasing agency mortgage-backed securities. The previously
announced purchases of $1.25 trillion of those securities will be executed by the end of
this month, and the Committee now anticipates that an additional $150 billion of such
securities will be purchased during the second quarter. The Federal Reserve has been
purchasing about $175 billion of agency debt, and those transactions will be executed by the
end of this month. The Committee will continue to evaluate its purchases of securities in light
of the evolving economic outlook and conditions in financial markets. The Committee will
maintain the target range for the federal funds rate at 0 to ¼ percent and continues to anticipate
that economic conditions, including low rates of resource utilization, subdued inflation trends,
and stable inflation expectations, are likely to warrant exceptionally low levels of the federal
funds rate for an extended period.
4. In light of improved functioning of financial markets, the Federal Reserve has been closing
the special liquidity facilities that it created to support markets during the crisis. The
only remaining such program, the Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility, is scheduled
to close on June 30 for loans backed by new-issue commercial mortgage-backed securities and
on March 31 for loans backed by all other types of collateral.

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Page 3 of 10

March FOMC Statement—Alternative B 
1. Information received since the Federal Open Market Committee met in January suggests
that economic activity has continued to strengthen and that the labor market is stabilizing.
Household spending is expanding at a moderate rate but remains constrained by high
unemployment, modest income growth, lower housing wealth, and tight credit. Business
spending on equipment and software has risen significantly. However, investment in
nonresidential structures is declining, and housing starts have been flat at a depressed
level. While bank lending continues to contract, financial market conditions remain supportive
of economic growth. Although the pace of economic recovery is likely to be moderate for a
time, the Committee anticipates a gradual return to higher levels of resource utilization in a
context of price stability.
2. With substantial resource slack continuing to restrain cost pressures and longer-term inflation
expectations stable, inflation is likely to be subdued for some time. [The Committee expects
that over time and with appropriate monetary policy, inflation will run at rates consistent
with price stability.]
3. The Committee will maintain the target range for the federal funds rate at 0 to ¼ percent and
continues to anticipate that economic conditions, including low rates of resource utilization,
subdued inflation trends, and stable inflation expectations, are likely to warrant exceptionally
low levels of the federal funds rate for an extended period. To provide support to mortgage
lending and housing markets and to improve overall conditions in private credit markets,
the Federal Reserve has been purchasing $1.25 trillion of agency mortgage-backed securities
and about $175 billion of agency debt; those purchases are nearing completion, and
the remaining transactions will be executed by the end of this month. The Committee
will continue to monitor the economic outlook and financial developments and will
employ its policy tools as necessary to promote economic recovery and price stability.
4. In light of improved functioning of financial markets, the Federal Reserve has been closing
the special liquidity facilities that it created to support markets during the crisis.
The only remaining such program, the Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility, is
scheduled to close on June 30 for loans backed by new-issue commercial mortgage-backed
securities and on March 31 for loans backed by all other types of collateral.

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Page 4 of 10

March FOMC Statement—Alternative C 
1. Information received since the Federal Open Market Committee met in January indicates
that economic activity has continued to advance and that the labor market is beginning to
stabilize. Consumer spending is expanding, business spending on equipment and software
has risen appreciably, and firms have brought inventory stocks into better alignment with
sales. While bank lending continues to contract, financial market conditions remain supportive
of economic growth. With a sustainable economic recovery now under way, the Committee
anticipates a gradual return to higher levels of resource utilization.
2. Higher energy prices have been reflected in a recent modest pickup in inflation, but
underlying inflation pressures remain muted. The Committee will adjust the stance of
monetary policy as necessary over time to ensure that longer-term inflation expectations
remain well anchored and that inflation outcomes are consistent with price stability.
3. The Committee will maintain the target range for the federal funds rate at 0 to ¼ percent and
continues to anticipate that economic conditions, including low rates of resource utilization,
subdued inflation trends, and stable inflation expectations, are likely to warrant exceptionally
low levels of the federal funds rate for some time [, at least through the end of the second
quarter]. The Federal Reserve has been purchasing $1.25 trillion of agency mortgage-backed
securities and about $175 billion of agency debt; those purchases are nearing completion,
and the remaining transactions will be executed by the end of this month.
4. Although the federal funds rate is likely to remain exceptionally low for some time,
the Federal Reserve will need to begin to tighten monetary conditions at the appropriate
time to prevent the [development of inflationary pressures][buildup of financial
imbalances and inflationary pressures over the medium to long run]. Over coming
months, the Federal Reserve will continue to test its tools for draining reserves. In due
course, those operations will be scaled up to drain more significant volumes of reserve
balances, and then the Federal Reserve will increase the interest rate paid on reserves
and its target for the federal funds rate. The Committee anticipates that any sales of the
Federal Reserve’s securities holdings would be gradual and would not occur until
after policy tightening is under way and the economic recovery is sufficiently advanced.
The Committee will monitor the economic outlook and financial developments in
determining the timing and sequence of its measures for policy firming and will
employ its tools as necessary to promote economic recovery and price stability.
5. In light of improved functioning of financial markets, the Federal Reserve has been closing
the special liquidity facilities that it created to support markets during the crisis.
The only remaining such program, the Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility, is
scheduled to close on June 30 for loans backed by new-issue commercial mortgage-backed
securities and on March 31 for loans backed by all other types of collateral.

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Page 5 of 10

March FOMC Statement—Alternative C’ 
1. Information received since the Federal Open Market Committee met in January indicates
that economic activity has continued to advance and that the labor market is beginning to
stabilize. Consumer spending is expanding, business spending on equipment and software
has risen appreciably, and firms have brought inventory stocks into better alignment with
sales. While bank lending continues to contract, financial market conditions remain supportive
of economic growth. With a sustainable economic recovery now under way, the Committee
anticipates a gradual return to higher levels of resource utilization.
2. Higher energy prices have been reflected in a recent modest pickup in inflation, but
underlying inflation pressures remain muted. The Committee will adjust the stance of
monetary policy as necessary over time to ensure that longer-term inflation expectations
remain well anchored and that inflation outcomes are consistent with price stability.
3. The Committee will maintain the target range for the federal funds rate at 0 to ¼ percent and
continues to anticipate that economic conditions, including low rates of resource utilization,
subdued inflation trends, and stable inflation expectations, are likely to warrant exceptionally
low levels of the federal funds rate for some time [, at least through the end of the second
quarter]. The Federal Reserve has been purchasing $1.25 trillion of agency mortgage-backed
securities and about $175 billion of agency debt; those purchases are nearing completion,
and the remaining transactions will be executed by the end of this month.
4. Although the federal funds rate is likely to remain exceptionally low for some time,
the Federal Reserve will need to begin to tighten monetary conditions at the appropriate
time to prevent the [development of inflationary pressures][buildup of financial
imbalances and inflationary pressures over the medium to long run]. Over coming
months, the Federal Reserve will continue to test its tools for draining reserves. In due
course, those operations will be scaled up to drain more significant volumes of reserve
balances, and then the Federal Reserve will increase the interest rate paid on reserves
and its target for the federal funds rate. To reduce the size of its balance sheet over
time, the Federal Reserve has been allowing all agency debt and agency mortgagebacked securities to roll off as they mature or are prepaid, and beginning on April 1 the
Federal Reserve will begin to redeem all maturing Treasury securities. The Committee
will also be assessing the possibility of gradual sales of the Federal Reserve’s securities
holdings to accomplish further reductions in the size of its portfolio. The Committee
will monitor the economic outlook and financial developments in determining the
timing and sequence of its measures for policy firming and will employ its tools as
necessary to promote economic recovery and price stability.
5. In light of improved functioning of financial markets, the Federal Reserve has been closing
the special liquidity facilities that it created to support markets during the crisis.
The only remaining such program, the Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility, is
scheduled to close on June 30 for loans backed by new-issue commercial mortgage-backed
securities and on March 31 for loans backed by all other types of collateral.

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Page 6 of 10

Table 1:  Overview of Alternative Language  
for the March 16, 2010 FOMC Announcement
January
FOMC

A
Economic Activity

March Alternatives
B

C/C´

Recent
Developments

“has continued
to strengthen”

“has continued
to strengthen”

“has continued
to advance”

Labor
Market

abating deterioration,
employers reluctant to
hire

abating deterioration
but unemployment high

appears to be stabilizing
but unemployment high

is beginning
to stabilize

Outlook

pace of recovery
“likely to be moderate”

further monetary
stimulus warranted by
prospects for subpar
recovery

pace of recovery
“likely to be moderate”

sustainable recovery
“now under way”

Inflation
Key Factors

substantial resource slack,
stable expectations

substantial resource slack,
stable expectations

modest pickup due
to energy prices, but
underlying pressures
remain muted

Outlook

“likely to be subdued
for some time”

“likely to be subdued
for some time”

policy adjustments
will ensure outcomes
“consistent with
price stability”

Timing and Sequence of Policy Firming
Forward
Guidance

“exceptionally low...
for an extended period”

“exceptionally low...
for an extended period”

“exceptionally low...
for some time”

Overview of
Exit Strategy*

---

---

reserve draining,
then increased IOER
and target funds rate

Agency MBS Purchases
Amount

$1.25 trillion

$1.4 trillion

$1.25 trillion

Duration

executed by the end
of the first quarter

extended through the
end of the second quarter

executed by the end
of this month

Focus of Policy Evaluation
“its purchases
of securities”
*

“its purchases
of securities”

“will employ its policy
tools as necessary”

“timing and
sequence of its
measures for policy
firming”

Alternative C indicates an expectation that asset sales will be gradual and will not be initiated until after policy firming has
begun. Alternative C´ states that the Federal Reserve will be redeeming all maturing Treasury securities and points to the
 
possibility that gradual asset sales could commence fairly soon.

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Page 7 of 10

 

DIRECTIVE 
The directive from the January meeting and draft language for the March directive
are provided below.

JANUARY FOMC MEETING 
The Federal Open Market Committee seeks monetary and financial conditions that
will foster price stability and promote sustainable growth in output. To further its
long-run objectives, the Committee seeks conditions in reserve markets consistent
with federal funds trading in a range from 0 to ¼ percent. The Committee directs
the Desk to purchase agency debt and agency MBS during the intermeeting period
with the aim of providing support to private credit markets and economic activity.
The timing and pace of these purchases should depend on conditions in the markets
for such securities and on a broader assessment of private credit market conditions.
The Desk is expected to execute purchases of about $175 billion in housing-related
agency debt and about $1.25 trillion of agency MBS by the end of the first quarter.
The Desk is expected to gradually slow the pace of these purchases as they near
completion. The Committee anticipates that outright purchases of securities will
cause the size of the Federal Reserve's balance sheet to expand significantly in
coming months. The Committee directs the Desk to engage in dollar roll transactions
as necessary to facilitate settlement of the Federal Reserve’s agency MBS transactions
to be conducted through the end of the first quarter, as directed above. The System
Open Market Account Manager and the Secretary will keep the Committee informed
of ongoing developments regarding the System's balance sheet that could affect the
attainment over time of the Committee's objectives of maximum employment and
price stability.

March 16, 2010

Authorized for Public Release

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Page 8 of 10

 

MARCH FOMC MEETING — ALTERNATIVE A 
The Federal Open Market Committee seeks monetary and financial conditions that
will foster price stability and promote sustainable growth in output. To further its
long-run objectives, the Committee seeks conditions in reserve markets consistent
with federal funds trading in a range from 0 to ¼ percent. The Committee directs
the Desk to purchase agency debt and agency MBS during the intermeeting period
with the aim of providing support to private credit markets and economic activity.
The timing and pace of these purchases should depend on conditions in the markets
for such securities and on a broader assessment of private credit market conditions.
The Desk is expected to execute purchases of about $175 billion in housing-related
agency debt by the end of March and about $1.4 trillion of agency MBS by the end of
the second quarter. The Committee anticipates that outright purchases of securities
will cause the size of the Federal Reserve’s balance sheet to expand significantly in
coming months. The Committee directs the Desk to engage in dollar roll transactions
as necessary to facilitate settlement of the Federal Reserve’s agency MBS transactions
to be conducted through the end of the second quarter, as directed above. The
System Open Market Account Manager and the Secretary will keep the Committee
informed of ongoing developments regarding the System’s balance sheet that could
affect the attainment over time of the Committee's objectives of maximum
employment and price stability.

March 16, 2010

Authorized for Public Release

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Page 9 of 10

 

MARCH FOMC MEETING — ALTERNATIVES B AND C 
The Federal Open Market Committee seeks monetary and financial conditions that
will foster price stability and promote sustainable growth in output. To further its
long-run objectives, the Committee seeks conditions in reserve markets consistent
with federal funds trading in a range from 0 to ¼ percent. The Committee directs
the Desk to complete the execution of its purchases of about $1.25 trillion of agency
MBS and of about $175 billion in housing-related agency debt by the end of March.
The Committee directs the Desk to engage in dollar roll transactions as necessary to
facilitate settlement of the Federal Reserve’s agency MBS transactions. The System
Open Market Account Manager and the Secretary will keep the Committee informed
of ongoing developments regarding the System’s balance sheet that could affect the
attainment over time of the Committee’s objectives of maximum employment and
price stability.

March 16, 2010

Authorized for Public Release

146 of 146
Page 10 of 10

 

MARCH FOMC MEETING — ALTERNATIVE C´ 
The Federal Open Market Committee seeks monetary and financial conditions that
will foster price stability and promote sustainable growth in output. To further its
long-run objectives, the Committee seeks conditions in reserve markets consistent
with federal funds trading in a range from 0 to ¼ percent. The Committee directs
the Desk to complete the execution of its purchases of about $1.25 trillion of agency
MBS and of about $175 billion in housing-related agency debt by the end of March.
The Committee directs the Desk to engage in dollar roll transactions as necessary
to facilitate settlement of the Federal Reserve’s agency MBS transactions. The
Committee directs the Desk to reduce the System’s securities holdings by continuing
the current practice of not reinvesting the proceeds from MBS prepayments and
from maturing agency MBS and agency debt and, beginning on April 1, 2010,
by not reinvesting the proceeds from maturing Treasury securities. The System
Open Market Account Manager and the Secretary will keep the Committee informed
of ongoing developments regarding the System's balance sheet that could affect the
attainment over time of the Committee's objectives of maximum employment and
price stability.